Submarine armor



J. KAMIENIECKI.

SUBMARINE ARMOR.

APPLICATION FILED DECJZ, |918..

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

'2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

nl K'armenilzk'rmwboz J. KAVIIENIECKI.

SUBMARINE ARMOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2, 1918.

1,370,590, Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

2 sHEEIs-SIIEEI 2.

juil.

JOSEF KAMIENIECKI, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SUBMARINE ARMOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

Application filed December 2, 1918.7-Seral-No. 264,986.

To all w lio-nt t may @0f/wcm.'

Be it known that l, ,loser linie rzNInoiiI, a citizen o" Russia, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and btate ot Illinois, have invented certain new and useful lmprovenients in Submarine Armor, of which the 'following is a speciiication.

Thisv invention relates to submarine or diving armor, and more particularly to a metal sectional armor of this type which by reason ot its strength and rigidity is particularly adapted for use in deep sea diving, and an object otl the invention is to provide a metal submarine armor which is flexible at its joints or connections under actual working conditions in order to enable the diver, when incased in the armor to have ready use ot his arms, hands and legs tor performing his necessary duties.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a submarine armor as specified, in which the air circulating system embodies a valve casing carried at the rear end of the helmet of the armor, which casing has an inlet chamber and an exhaust chamber with the passage of air therethrough 1oeing controlledV by flap valves, so as to prevent the passage of exhaled air into the inlet compartment and also to provide a valve mechanism in the said casing 'whereby the. air may be cut off, in case the hose becomes broken, to prevent the flooding` of the interior of the armor, and further to provide a relatively small electric tan carried by the armor and having its exhaust arranged for passage into the exhaust or exhaling chamber of the said valve casing, to create an air suction through the armor and maintain fresh and clean air within the helmet of the armor at all times, by drawing the used or 'exhaled air into the exhaust or exhaling compartment and forcing it outwardly through the outlet or exhaling tube of the ventilating system. Y K

A further objectoit the invention provide means in marine armor as specied, which will permit the diver to rise through the water, independently ot' the usual type ot joint employed ttor this purpose, which means include a propeller and a suitable prime mover therefor, the operation of which is controlled by theoperation ot' a switch at the iront ot the body portion ot the armor, whereby the diver can, at any desired time,

operate the switch to permit the operation is to connection with the sub-V of the propeller to force him upwardly through the water.

A still Jr'urther object of the invention is to provide an armor as specified in which the arm and leg inclosing sections are detachably connected to the body section to permit their quick and easy removal or disconnection irom the body tofacilitate the placing ot' the suit upon a diver and also to provide easily operated means for connecting these sections to the body section by fluid tight joints.

Uther objects ofthe invention will appear in the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the improved submarine armor.

Jig. Z is a aceview lof the armor showing' parts in section. f Y

Fig. 3 is a centra-l longitudinal Vsection through one of the arm sections of the armor, and i at is a detail section on the line 4 4 Fig. 1, illustrating the switch .construe ion for controlling the operation of the aropeller and the air circulating an.

Y teierring more'particularly to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like and corresponding'parts throughout the seve al views, l designates the body or torso incasing portions of the armor which is constructed ot relatively thin sheet metal, so asjto prevent collapsing thereof, andthe consequent upward forcing of lthe air from the lower portieri ot the armor into the upper portion or helmet thereof, lwhen the diver enters the water, and' also to prevent the collapsing of the armor against` the body ot the diver when encountering relatively swift under currents.

rEhe torso engaging portion l ot' the armor` is composed oi an upper section 2, and a lower section 3 whichsections are connected, bythreaded portions as indicated at All, to provide fluid tight joints betweenthe said sections. l

The lower section in its ends which are adapted to permit'the insertion vot the hipfengaging inembersvt') and 6 within 'this portion'ot' the body of the armor. Each ot the hip-engaging portions 5 and 6 is Vsubstantially cylindrical Vin shape, having their uppermost portions cut 3 of the torso engaging portion l is provided with circularopenlngsl away to providev spaces for receiving the hip oil the wearer, which cut away portions meet at the inner ends of the said sections as clearly shown in F 1g. 2 of the drawings. The hip-encompassing portions and 6 are Vrotatably mounted within the lower section 3 ofthe body 1 of the armor for independcnt movement to permit movement of one jtheretoj the thigh or Aupper leg incasing tube 9. 'These tubes 9 are detachably connected in any suitable manner to the sections 5 and, and they are provided with annular channels 10 near their lower ends.

,nular channels 10 receivethe inner ends ci set screws 11 which are carried by the couplingmembers 12. for vconnecting thel Y tubular sections Y V9 'to the coupling members 12.v These coupling members 12 which provide the" linee ]oints comprise outer housing sections 13 in which are rotatably mounted cylindrical vmembers 14. The cylindrical membersv 14 are mounted for rotation about vhorizontal axes and they have their upper portions cut away to permit the insertion of the legs of theY person wearing the armor therethrough. The cylindrical sections 14 are confined'within the outer vhousing sectionsV 13byv` detachable end'plates 15 and through'the4 medium of the rotary mounting of these members within the housing'members 13 andthe connection Vbetween the housing members 13 to the tubes9 a universal movement iis provided at'the knee joint.

The cylindrical rotary members l4are eachv provided with openings 16 circular 1n shape and `formed in their lower portions, which openings receive the upper ends of the .tubes forinclosing the lower leg section, below the knee, of the wearer of the armor.

The tubular sections 17 haveV their lower ends detachably connected to the upstanding portions '13V of the coupling member 19. These coupling members 19 form a portion of the shoes or foot .engagingv parts of the` armor and they haveitheir lateral end portions' open to permit the insertion therein of the V'cylindrical vportion 2.0 of the footY inclosing sections 21. The cylindrical portions 20 are rotatably mounted within the casing 19 to permit ofmovement of these Vsections about horizontal axes to permit the useof the ankle of the wearer. The casing 19 is provided withV weighted heel portions 22 to assist the wearer in keeping'his feet idupon the bottom of the sea or surface upon which he is walking. The upper section 2 of the torso incasing The an-A portion or` the armor 1 is provided with openings 24 thereinrat each side and near its upper end to permit the insertion of the arms' of thel diver therethrough.v F langed collars 25 lare mounted in the openings 24,

the flanges 0f which engage against the innersurface of the section 2 about the opening. The collars 25 are externally threaded for threaded engagement with the upper ends of the upperl arm inclosing portions 26 of the armor and if it is desired, ribs 27 may be formed upon the upper ends of the sections 26' tor limiting the inserting movement 'of their upperthreaded ends. The

upper sections 23 Vare laterally threaded as ,shownv at 28 toy `receive the shoulders of ythe wearer and their lower ends are providedV `casings 31 'for rotary movement by detachable end plates 33. The circular or cylindrical members 32 have theiiorearm inclosing tube 33 connected thereto in any suitable manner as shown at 34 and these tubular sections 35 are provided with annular channelsV near their outer or lower ends as shown at 36' for receiving the inner ends of the set screws 37 which connect the casing members 38 to the forearm inclosing. tube 35 to permit rotary movement of ythe casing with respect to the tubular sections 35. The casings 3S have their end portions Vopen for permitting lthe insertion of the cylindrical members 39 therein. The cylindrical members 39 are rotatably confined within the casings 38'by end plates 40 whichare detachably connected in 'any suitable manner tothe casings 38. The gloves or hand inclosing portions 41 are connected to the cylindrical members and these cylindrical members being rotatably mounted within thehousing or coupling 38, permit wrist movement or the hand ori-glove portions 41. These hand or glove portions 41 comprise a relatively rigid sectionV 42 having a pocket 43 adapted t0 receive the fingers oi' the user andthe movable sections 44 adaptedV to receive `the thumbs of the diver. The

Vmovable sections 44 are rotatably connected Vspending to the joints in the arms and legs,

rear side thereof and a valve casing is attached to the helmet ,about the opening 54;. The valve casing 55 is provided with a central partition 56, dividing theV same into an inhaling compartment 57 and an exhaling compartment 58. The openings in these compartments which have communication with the interior of the helmet 50 are covered by perforated plates 59 and flap valves 60 and 61 are provided, being positioned respectively upon the inner and outer` sides of the plates 59 in the compartments 57 and 58 for controlling the passage of air through the perforated space 59. For instance the flap valve 60 is positioned against the inner surface of the plates 59 in the compartment 57 So as to allow the inlet of air into the armor but prevent the outlet of air from the armor into the compartment 57 while the flap valve 61 is positioned against the inner surface of the plate 59 of the compartment 58 to permit the inlet of air into the compartment 58 from the armor and prevent the passage of air into the armor, from the compartment. These compartments 57 and 58 have the air supply or inlet hose 62 and the exhaling or outlet hose 63 connected therewith. A rotary valve 64 is positioned in the casing 55, for controlling the passage of air from the hoses 63 and 62 into or from the respective compartments with which they communicate. The valve handle 65 is positioned exteriorly of the casing, so that in case either one of Y the hose 62 or 63 becomes broken, the diver can by rotating the valve, prevent the flooding of the interior of the armor. A hose or conduit 66 has communication with the inlet or inhaling compartment 57 and it has a mouth piece 61 thereon for engagement with the face of the diver, so that the inrushing air may be delivered directly to his mouth or nose, as desired, without its passim through the armor, while the eX- haled air from the diver is exhausted into the armor and forced therefrom by the action of a rotary fan 68. The fan 68 is positioned within a casing 69 which is pivotally connected as shown at 70 to the torso inclosing body 1 of the armor. An Velectric motor 70 is positioned within the casing 69 The helmet 50 is also provided Vwith an opening 5a in theA for operating the fan 68 and the exhaust from the fan'casing 71 communicates with a conduit or hose 72, the outlet of which is positioned adjacent the inner open end of the compartment 58 to permit the eX- ha-usting of the air circulated by the fan 68 through this exhaust or eXhaling compartment to create a suction therethrough for facilitating the scavenging of the armor, and removing the foul air therefrom.

The casing 69 also has an electric motor or prime mover 73 positioned therein and connected to the main operating shaft 74: to which a propeller 75 is connected. The propeller 75 is positioned exteriorly; of the casing 69 and in such position that upon ioperation of the motor, the propeller will be rotated for driving the diver` upwardly through the water, thus in case one of the hoses 62 or 63 becomes broken, and the diver closes the valve 64, he can by starting the motor or prime mover 73 force himself to rise upwardly through the water, or he can, at any desired time, cause himself to rise independently of the usual mechanism for hoisting or drawing him upwardly through the water. y

The torso inclosing body 1 has'suitable anchoring members 76 connected thereto to which the ordinary hoisting cables 77 are attached.

The switch 80 is carried by the section 2 of the body 1 at the forward end of the same, and it has an operating lever`81 connected thereto and positioned exteriorly of the body 1 so that it may be operated by the diver at will to swing the movable contact 8O into engagement in either one or both of the stationary contacts 82 and 83. These stationary contacts 82 and 83 are insulated from each other by a slot of insulation 84. The stationary contact 82 is connected'to the motor 70 for operating the fan 68, while the stationary contact 83 is connected to the motor 73 for operating the propeller 75. The feed wires which supply the current for the operation of the motors 70 and 73 extend downwardly from thc'ship or place from which the diver descends, being coiled about one of the hoisting cables 7 7 and indicated at 85, passing through a suitable opening 86 in the helmet, from whence they are connected to the stationary and movable contacts 82 andr83.

A suitable buoyant tank or float 88 is'pivotally connected to the body l and assists the diver in raising himself with the assistalice of the propeller 85.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent that a metal diving suit, particularly adapted for deep ksea diving has'been provided which suit embodies flexibility to such an extent as to permit the diver to have use of practically all of the whereby the diver may, et his Will, force himself u Wardlv to the surface of Vthe we- 'ter Without the assistance of the usuel typek othoist; and it isjto Ybe understood that changes 1n detailsmay be made without, de-

parting from the spirit of the invention',

but; Y

'Vhat is claimed is: Y jl. A submarine armor comprisinge body )ortion provided with :t helmet t velvecesing providing@ plurality of eonipnrtinente communicatinq individually nf'ith the space within the helmet, oppositely openingvalves controlling ,entrance and exit to the coinpertinents, :t valve common to seid*compareV ments and havingr operating ineens extending on theloutside of the casing.4 p

2. A metal submarine armor comprising a body portion provided Ajivvith a helmet, n

the

valve casing having a partition dividing thesame into a pair of separate compartments, said compartments communicating individnelly with the space Withinsadhelmet', opposi'tely opening flap valves controlling inlet and outlet ofeir between Athe helmet and seidicompartments 'single valve plug hevingl ports Within said compartments and erre Aged to'control the passage of air therethrough, an operating ineens `for said plug extending exteriorly ot the casing, ase-cond casing carried by the body portion, e fan in the tanto t point in proximity to one oi the compartments. y'

ln :t nietalsubmarine armor, body )ortion provided with e helmet, e valve easav ig e, pnrtitiontherein forming sepchambers communicating with the hel# met, liep valves carried by the valve cascontrolling the inlet and outlet of air `vith respect to thehelmet,end a single valve element in the casing having ports arranged to control the passage' of eir through said chambers end provided Tvvith :t handle exteriorlr or" the casing.

J SEF KAMIENIECKI,

second casing, and a, pipe leading from Y 

